Multiple-length series-delivery tape-moistening- machine



C. H. CROWELLK MULHPLE LENGTH sERsEs DELIVERY TAPE MOISTEN'ING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. B. l9l7.

TPatenned June 3, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 .C. H. CBOWELL.

MULTIPLE LENGTH SERIES DELIVERY TAPE MOISTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. m2.

Patented June 3, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'fdE mmms PETERS CO.,PH010-LIIHO. wAsmn/GTON, v c

CHARLES H. CROWELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. V

MULTIPLE-LENGTH SERIES-DELIVERY TAPE-MOISTENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application filed February 8, 1917. Serial No. 147,324

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CRownLL, a citizen of the United States,and resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and Stateof New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating toMultiple-Length Series-Deliverj Tape-Mo-istening Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, which forms part of the same. I

This invention relates especially to tape moisteniug machines which candeliver se ries of strips of moistened gummed tape, the strips in eachseries being of different lengths according to the particularrequirements of use. In ordinary carton sealing two short and one longstrip are usually desirable and the machine may be adjusted to deliverany desired number of such series of different length strips inmoistened condition so as to be ready for sealing purposes. If desired,the cutter devices severing the strips may be positively geared from thefeed or delivery devices so as to more accurately sever the strips andinsure their having the lengths desired.

In theaccompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic wayillustrative embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along theline 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a top view, parts being removed for greater clearness.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the cut-off cam devices.

5 shows the moistener and presser mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the cut-off cam; and

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the preferred presscr roll construction.

The machine may be provided with a rigid frame 1 of any suitableconstruction on which may be mounted the electric or other motor 2, sothat the motor clutch member 3 may be moved from its inoperativeposition indicated in such way as, to couple the worm shaft 10 to. themotor. This may be effected by the pivoted arm 4 swinging about the pin5 and normally held in inoperative posi tion by the spring 156. The rod6 may be connected to this aim and to the treadle operating member ortreadle lever 7 adapted to be moved by the operator in any suit-able wayas through the link 8 and treadle 9, which'may be arranged adjacent thefloor and preferably near the delivery end of the machine so as to beconvenient for the operator receiving and applying the gummed strips.For example, the operator may stand on this treadle so long as hedesires to have the machine deliver gummed sealing strips, or thetreadle or clutch operating device may be arranged with sufficientstiffness or frictional holding power so as 'toremain in either theclutched or unclutched position. The operating parts of the machine maybe connected to the motor in any suitable way as through the worm 11 onthe worm shaft 10 meshing with the worm wheel 12 on the drive shaft 13which may extend. transversely across the machine. This drive shaft mayas indicated in Fig. 2 carry the gear 40 which may drive the feed rolls44, 45 through suitable intermediate gearing, such as the spur gears 41,42 43 and 46, which may thus positively drive the feed rolls at thedesired linear speed so as to correspondingly withdraw the strip ofgummed cloth or paper tape 114 from the tape roll 115 mounted in anysuitable way. If desired, the tape may pass over the guide rolls 124 and125, and also in some cases the cooperating tension rolls 123 may beinterposed to promote proper tensioning, straightening and feeding,these tension rolls being, if clesired, mounted in the yoke 122 guidedin suitable vertical guides in the side members of the frame as shown inFig. 1. For some purposes it is desirable to have the feed rollsdisengageable so that their feeding engagement on the tape may bestopped when de sired and this may be conveniently effected by mounting,as indicated in Fig. 3, the upper feed roll 45 in suitable slides 47which may be vertically movable in the slide ways or guides 49. Theseslides may have pins 48 projecting therefrom so as to be engaged by thearms 50 on the lifting lever 51 having the handle 52 extending therefromas indicated.

From the feed rolls 44, 45 the gummed tape may pass between suitableguides, such as 39, as diagranunatically indicated in Fig. 2, tosuitable cutter rolls 37, 38 intermittently operated through anysuitable mechanism, such as will be subsequently described so as tosever the gummed tape into strips of the desired lengths to form theseries of different strips desired. From the cutter rolls the strips maypass through suitable guides which, of course, preferably engage thecutter rolls more closely than is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2and which effectively guide the tape to the delivery devices or belts62, 63. These delivery belts which may, as indicated in Fig. 3, beformed of separate belts or strips of felt, cloth or other suitablematerial, may be positively driven through any suitable mechanismpreferably at a linear speed slightly in excess of the feed rolls so asto keep the tape taut and promote severance of the strips. The lowerfeed belts 62 may as indicated be supported on a suitable plate 162 andbe mounted on suitable rolls 61, 70, at any de sired distance apart anddriven at the desired speed as from the gear 40 through the intermediategears 53, 5 1, and the gear on the roll 61. If desired, also thecotiperating forward roll on which these delivery belts 62 are mountedmay be positively driven, and for this purpose the shaft 56 of the roll61 may have arranged thereon a suitable sprocket wheel 57, as indicatedin Fig. 3-, so as to operate the drive chain 58 engaging a sprocketwheel 69 on the shaft 73 of the forward belt roll in connection,ifdesired, with the tightener sprocket 120 on the movable arm 121. Inthis way the lower belts are positively driven at the desired speed andthe upper delivery belts 63 may also be positively driven as by mountingthese belts on the rolls 60, 66, which are geared to the other beltrolls below. The gear 59 on the belt roll 60 may, for instance, meshwith the gear 55 on the belt roll 61 and the gear 67 on the belt roll 66at the delivery end of these belts may mesh with the gear 68 on the beltroll 70 below. For purposes of inspection, and so forth, it is desirableto have the upper delivery belts removably mounted in the machine andthis may be conveniently effected by mounting them on a removable framecomprising the side plates 61 in which the belt rolls are mounted, andthese side plates may have the projecting pins loosely fitting withinvertical slots 165 in the frame of the machine at one or both ends ofthe belts so as to hold the frame and upper belts in proper position,while at the same time allowing them to be vertically lifted at one orboth ends and also promoting by the weight of the parts their properengagement with the delivery belts below.

The tape strips issuing from the forward delivery belt rolls may bereceived between any suitable stationary guides, such as 117, and maythen pass through the moistener device of any desired character, such,for

example, as the moistener roll 91 and cooperating presser roll 118 shownin Fig. 2 to effectively moisten the gummed tape strips 111 which thusare delivered in such condition as to be applied to cartons or otherpackages Or articles to be sealed or for other uses. The moistener roll91, which is preferably driven at two or three times the surface speedof the delivery belts so as to suitably space apart the delivered stripsmay be mounted on the shaft 90revolubly supported in the frame of themachine so that the roll normally dips into the water tank 92 which maybe supported on the machine frame as by resting on the block or member127 and on the removable tank support 126 which firmly supports thewater tank when in raised position indicated, while it may, of course,be swung forward and downward so as to allow the water tank to bewithdrawn from the machine for refilling or for cleaning the moisteneror other purposes. The moistener roll may, if desired, be provided withsuitable longitudinal slots or line corrugations 116 adapted to carrythe water up the roll in regulated quantities and it is sometimesdesirable to have separated annular recesses, such as 113, formed inthis roll as shown in Fig. 3, so that guides 17 3 Or forwardlyprojecting tips of the disengaging guides or fingers on the guide member101 may fit within these recesses and prevent the gummed tape from beingcarried around in contact with the moistener roll. This guide member 101may as indicated in Fig. 5 be mounted on the pin or pawl 100 and benormally lightly pressed downward as by a spring 98, while the adjustingscrews 102 on one or both sides of this member may be arranged to engagewith the stationary pins 103 so as to accurately regulate the positionof this guide member. It is also desirable to have a scraper or doctor95 arranged in co6peration with the moistener roll on its rising side soas to regulate the amount of moisture carried up thereby, which, ifdesired, may be such as to practically fill the longitudinalcorrugations or slots 116. This doctor 95 may, if desired, be mounted onthe doctor levers 91 pivoted to the pin or bar 93 and normally pressedinward as by the spring 96. The cotiperating presser roll 118 ispreferably, positively driven in unison with the moistener roll 91, or,if desired, at a slightly greater surface speed through suitablegearing, such as 88, 130 shown in Fig. 3, and the moistener and presserroll may be ad vantageously geared to the other moving parts of themachine. This may be accomplished, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by thepinion 87 on the moistener roll shaft 90 which may mesh with the spurwheel 86 on the stud shaft 89 so as to be driven by the gear 68 on theshaft 73 driven as previously described. It is also desirable that thispresser roll should be accurately positioned with respect to themoistener. purpose the presser roll shaft 119 may be mounted in thepresser arms 106 pivoted about the pins 112 and normally forcing thepresser roll downward as by suitable springs 111. Adjusting screws, suchas 107 may be arranged in these presser armsso as to cooperate with thestationary stops or abutments 108 and positively regulate thepositioning of this presser roll which may thus be yieldingly held at adistance of a few thousandths of an inch from the moistening roll belowwhen no gummed tape is passing between these rolls. Then when a gummedstrip is. carried forward by the delivery belts the presser roll risesslightlyso as to allow the strip to pass beneath it, while at the sametime the strip is pressed down into reliable moistening contact withthemoistening roll below so as to uniformly and thoroughly moisten itsgummed surface. It is desirable to minimize the amount of moisturereceived by the presser roll when the gummed tape is not passingthereunder, and for this purpose the presser roll may be advantageouslyformed of suitable Water repellant material besides having such water asmay be delivered thereto removed therefrom before that part of thepresser roll comes down again opposite to the moistener. The presserroll may, for example, be formed of wax impregnated disks of paper, aseries of such disks being shown in Fig. 7 as compressed betweensuitable end cheeks or plates 140. Ifpaper is thoroughly impregnated orsaturated with paraflin or other suitable wax and compressed in thisway, the resulting built-up roll may be turned down and smoothed orotherwise shaped into cylindrical form so as to have a substantiallyuniform durable surface of a water repellant character which receives aminimum amount of water from the mois tener roll below. If desired,also, any water that is transferred to this presser roll may be removedtherefrom as by a suitable scraper 109 which may cooperate with therearward descending side of the presser roll to remove this Waterandguide the same out laterally to the sides where it can drip from theends of the trough-like scraper down again into the water tank 92. Thisscraper may, as indicated, be supported by suitable brackets 110 securedto the presser arms 106.

The cutter is preferably operated by suitable change or variable speedgearing so as to positively and reliably actuate the cutter at thedesired intervals to sever any desired number of series of differentlength strips having the lengths required for the particular service.This may be done, in any suit-- able way as for example, by actuatingthe For this cutter mechanism from the gear '75 on the shaft 72 which asindicated in F 3 carries at its. other end gear '71 which may mesh withthe gear 68 on shaft 73. 'A suitable change gear sector 81 may cooperatewith the shaft 72 and be adjusted in desired po sition as by the wingnut 84: cooperating with the sector slot 83 in this member. The radialgear slot 82 may thus be adjusted in angular position so as to hold inproper position a pair of connected change gears, such as 76, meshingwith the gear 75, and 77 meshing with the gear 7 8 on shaft 28. It is ofcourse understood that these change gears may be removed and replaced byothers by removing the nut 7 9 on the sliding stud shaft 80 of wellknown construction.

In this Way the cut-off or cam' shaft 28 may be driven at any desiredspeed as compared with the other elements of the machine and the cut-offcam 29 on this shaft 28 may thus be rotated through one revolution everytime the tape feeding and delivering devices deliver a length of tapecorresponding to the aggregate length of the different stripsmak ing upa complete series. Thischange gearing thus regulates the total oraggregate length of the strips in a series and the arrangement of theoperating members or recesses 30 on the cut-off cam determines therelative lengths of thedifferent strips in any one series, since everytime one of these operating cam members moves into engagement with theprojecting finger 27 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, a strip of gummed tapeis severed through appropriate connections. As

indicated in Fig. 6 these operating cam members 30 are so spaced'aroundthe cam 29 as to give relative lengths of 2 to 1 to 1 in the threestrips forming a series, although it'is, of course, understood that thiscam may be'repla-ced by another having a different number or relativepositioning of these operating cam members so as to vary the number orrelative length of the different strips in a series. Any suitableconnections may be used to operate the cutter devices from the cut-offcam, and if desired, the cutoff or clutch lever 26 having the projection0r finger 27 engaging the cam recesses 30 may be mounted on the rockshaft or clutch rod 2 1, as shown in Figs. Land 1, and the clutch detent2-1 on the other end of this clutch rod which may be supported insuitable brackets or bearings 23, 25 may cooperate with the pin 20 of aone-revolution stop motion clutch of any suitable construction. Anindicated. the clutch dog 19 is normally spring-pressed outward intoengagement with the teeth 16 01 the clutch wheel 15 so as to couple thecutter shaft 17 to this continuously revolving clutch wheel so long asthe clutch detent is swung out of the path of the pin. As shown in Figs.1 and 3 this clutch dog 19 may be slidingly mounted in a suitable clutcharm 18 having its sleeve 153 secured as by the pin 34 to the clutchshaft 17. The clutch Wheel 15 may as indicated be connected by asuitable pin 154i with the spur gear le'meshing with the gear 32 on thedriving shaft 13 so as to constantly rotate this clutch wheel, which isloose on the cutter shaft. The cutter shaft 17 carries the cutter roll88 which is geared to the cooperating cutter roll 37 by gears 35, 36, asshown in Fig. 2. In this Way whenever the cut-01f cam actuates theclutch detent and withdraws it from the clutch pin '20 this instantlystarts the revolution of these cutter rolls so as to promptly bring theminto cutting engagement with the gummed strip and then after thesecutter rolls have made a single revolution the clutch detent has beenrestored to its stopping position in the path of the pin 20 which isthus wedged radially inward into its inoperative position out of contactwith the clutch wheel, so that the cutter rolls are normally held in theinactive position shown in Fig. 2, allowing the gummed tape to passfreely between them.

It is thus apparent that the gummed tape so long as the clutch treadleis held down by the operators foot or by suitable latch mechanism sothat the drive shaft is rotated, and so long as the lifting lever 52 isnot operated to disengage the feedrolls the gummed tape is continuouslyfed forward by the feed rolls. Then at the proper intervals the gummedtape is severed into strips of the desired relative lengths to form theseries required and these severed strips are taken by the delivery beltsand are then engaged and fed forward more rapidly and thus separatedwhile they are being moistened by the moistener mechanism, and arefinally delivered at the end of the machine to be conveniently graspedand used by the operator. The adjustable cut-off change gearingdescribed makes it possible to accurately adjustthe absolute length ofthe strips forming a series, so that, for example, the strips may bewithin a sixteenth of an inch or so of the standard lengths, and if adifferent multiple length series of strips is to be delivered by themachine another cut-oif cam may be substituted thereon having the camoperating members or devices so positioned as to give two, three, fouror more different properly proportioned length strips in each series.

This invention has been described in connection with a number ofillustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, materials, sizes,arrangements, and methods of use, to the details of which disclosure theinvention is not, of course, to be limited, since what is claimed as newand what is desired to be covered by Letters Patent is set forth in theappended claims.

1. Intape mo stening machines, feed rolls to engage and feed forward astrip of gummed tape, cutter devices to intermittently engage and sever.the tape into lengths, delivery belts to receive and carry forward thesevered strips and moving at a slightly greater surface speed than saidfeed rolls and tape moistening devices cooperating with the dischargeend of said delivery belts and operating at several times the surfacespeed of said belts to moisten the severed strips and cutter actuatingdevices comprising a one revolution stop motion clutch and a connectedcut-off cam positively geared to the feeding or delivering elements ofthe machine and having a series of spaced cam operating members arrangedat different spaced intervals around the cam to pcriodically actuatesaid cutter devices and sever the tape into recurring series eachcomprising strips of different lengths.

2. In tape moistening machines, feed rolls to engage and feed forward astrip of gummed tape, cutter devices to intermittently engage and severthe tape into lengths, delivery belts to receive and carry forward thesevered strips and tape moistening devices cooperating with thedischarge end of said delivery belts and operating at several times thesurface speed of said belts to moisten the severed strips and cutteractuating devices comprising a one revolution stop motion clutch and aconnected cut-off cam having a series of spaced cam operating membersarranged at different spaced inter vals around the cam to periodicallyactuate said cutter devices and sever the tape into recurring serieseach comprising strips of different lengths.

3. In tape moistening machines, feed rolls to engage and feed forward astrip of gummed tape, cutter devices to intermittently engage and severthe tape into lengths, delivery belts to receive and carry forward thesevered strips and tape moistening devices to moisten the severed stripsand cutter actuating devices comprising a connected cut-off cam having aseries of spaced cam operating members arranged at different spacedintervals around the cam to periodically actuate said cutter devices andsever the tape into recurring series each comprising strips of differentlengths.

4. In tape moistening machines, cutter devices to engage and severgummed tape into lengths, delivery belts to receive and carry forwardthe severed strips and tape moistening devices cotiperating with thedis: charge end of said delivery belts and operating at greater surfacespeed than that of said belts to moisten the severed strips and cutteractuating devices comprising a one revolution stop motion clutch and acon nected cut-ofi' cam having a series of spaced cam operating membersarranged at dif ferent spaced intervals around the cam to periodicallyactuate said cutter devices and sever the tape into recurring serieseach comprlsing strips of difierent lengths.

5. In tape moistening machines, cutter de-.

vices to engage and sever gummcd tape into lengths, and tape moisteningdevices to moisten the severed strips and cutter actuating devicescomprising a one revolution stop motion clutch and a connected cut-offcam having a seriesof spaced cam operat- 1 111g members arranged atdifierent spaced lntervals around the cam to periodically actuate saidcutter devices and sever the tape into recurring series each comprisingtening contact with the moistener roll, said presser roll having a waterrepellent peripheral surface, means to positively rotate said moistenerroll and means to positively rotate said presser roll at a linear speedslightly greater than that of the moistener roll, adjusting devices toregulate theininimum distance between said moistener and presser rollsto less than the thickness of the gummcd tape passing between them andallow the yielding separation of said rolls as the tape engages them.

7. In tape moistening machines, feed means to engage and feed forward astrip of gummcd tape, cutter devices to engage and sever the tapetransversely into recurring series each comprising strips of differentlengths, delivery belts .to receive and carry forward the severed stripsand tape moistening devices cooperating with the dis charge end of saiddelivery belts to moisten the severed strips and comprising a. moistenerroll having recesses to carry water to the tape and a cooperatingpresser roll to engage tape and yieldingly force it into moisteningcontact with the moistener roll,

meansto positively rotate said moistener roll and means to positivelyrotate said presser roll at a linear speed slightly greater than that ofthe moistener roll, adjusting devices to regulate the minimum distancebetween said moistener and presser rolls to less than the thickness ofthe gummed tape passing betweenthem and allow the yielding separation ofsaid rolls as the tape engages them.

8, In tape moistening machines, feed means toengageand feed forward astrip of gummcd tape, cutter devices to engage and sever the tapetransversely into recurring series each comprising strips of differentlengths, delivery belts to receive and carry forward the severed stripsand tape moistening devices cooperating with the discharge end of saiddelivery belts to moisten the severed strips and comprising a moistenerroll and a cooperating presser roll to engage tape and yieldingly forceit into moistening contact with the moistener roll.

9. In tape moistening machines, feed rolls to engage and feed forward astrip of gummcd tape, cutter devices to engage and sever the tape intolengths, delivery belts to receive and carry forward the severed stripsand moving at a slightly greater an. face speed than said feedrolls andtape moistening devices cooperating with the discharge end of saiddelivery belts'to moisten the severed strips and cutter actuatingdevices comprising a cut-off'cam positively geared to a tape feedingelement of the machine and having a series of spaced cam operatingmembers arranged at different spaced intervals around the cam to periodsically actuate said cutter devices and sever the tape into recurringseries each comprising strips of different lengths.

10. In tape moistening machines, feed rolls to engage and feed forward astrip of gummcd tape, cutter devices to engage and sever the tape intolengths, delivery belts to receive and carry forward the severed stripsand tape moistening devices cooperating with the discharge endof saiddelivery belts tomoisten the severed strips and cutter actuating devicesto periodically actuate said cutter devices andsever the tape intorecurring series eachcomprising strips of different lengths. r

11. In tape moistening machines, mechanism to engage and feed forward astrip of gummcd tape, cutter'devices to engage and its sever the "tapetransversely into recurring series each comprising strips of differentlengthpfeed devices to receive and yield ingly carry forward the severedstrips and tape moistening discharging devices cooperating with thedischarge end of said'de- V livery devices to moisten the severed stripsand feed them forward atiajfaster rate rto separate the differentstrips. I I

12. In tape moistening mach nes, means to feed guinmed tape, cutterdevices/to sever the tape into lengths, tape moistening devices tomoisten the severed strips and cutter actuating means comprising aninterchangeable cam'positively gear connected to an operating feedingelement of the machine and having a series of spaced cam operatingmembers arranged at different spaced intervals around the cam' toactuate said cutter'device and sever the tape into recurring series,each comprising strips of different predetermined lengths.

13. In tape moistening machines, means to feed gummed tape, cutterdevices to sever the tape into lengths, tape moistening devices tomoisten the severed strips and cutter actuating means comprising a campositively connected to an operating feeding element of the machine andhaving a series of spaced cam operating members arranged at differentspaced intervals around the cam to actuate said cutter device and severthe tape into recurring series, each comprising strips of differentpredetermined lengths.

1%. In tape moistening machines, means to feed gummed tape, cutterdevices to sever the tape into recurring series, each comprising stripsof different predetermined proportionate lengths, means to adjust theaggregate length of the strips in each series and tape moisteningdevices to moisten the severed strips.

15. In tape moistening machines, means to feed gummed tape, cutterdevices to automatically sever the tape into recurring series, eachcomprising strips of different predetermined lengths, and tapemoistening devices to moisten the severed strips.

16. In tape moistening machines, tape feeding means, cutter devices tointermittently sever the tape into lengths, moisten ing means and cutteractuating means comprising an interchangeable cam connected to said tapefeeding means having a series of spaced cam operating members arrangedat different spaced intervals around the cam to periodically actuatesaid cutter device and sever the tape into recurring series, eachcomprising strips of different predetermined proportionate lengths.

17. In tape moistening machines, cutter devices to intermittently severthe tape into lengths, moistening means and cutter actuating meanscomprising a cam connected to said tape feeding means having a series ofspaced cam operating members arranged at different spaced intervalsaround the cam to periodically actuate said cutter device and sever thetape into recurring series, each comprising strips of differentpredetermined lengths. V

18. In tape moistening machines, moistening means and cutter devices tosever the tape into recurring series, each comprising strips ofdifierent predetermined lengths.

19. In tape moistening machines, means to feed and sever a strip ofgummed tape into lengths and moistening means for the severed lengths oftape comprising a moistener roll having longitudinal water carryingcorrugations and recesses to carry water to the tape and a cooperatingpresser roll above said moistener roll to engage the tape and yieldinglyforce it into moistening contact with the moistener roll, said presserroll having a water repellent peripheral surface formed by the exposededges of compressed disks of paraiiined paper, means to positivelyrotate said moistener roll and means topositively rotate said presserroll at a linear speed slightly greater than that of the moistener roll,adjusting devices to regulate the minimum distance between saidmoistener and p'resser rolls to less than the thickness of the gummedtape passing between them and llow the yielding separation of said rollsas the tape engages them and a scraper cooperating with said presserroll to remove adherent water therefrom.

20. In tape moistening machines, means to feed and sever a strip ofgummed tape into lengths and moistening means for the severed lengths oftape comprising a moistener roll to carry water to the tape and acooperating presser roll above said moistener roll to engage the tapeand yieldingly force it into moistening contact with the moistener roll,said presser roll having a water repellent peripheral surface formed bythe exposed edges of compressed disks of paraffined paper, means topositively rotate said moistener roll and means to positively rotatesaid presser roll, adjusting devices to regulate the minimum distancebetween said moistener and presser rolls to less than the thickness ofthe gummed tape passing between them and a scraper cooperating with saidpresser roll to remove adherent water therefrom.

21. In tape moistening machines, means to feed and sever a strip ofgummed tape and moistening means for the tape comprising a moistenerroll to carry water to the tape and a cooperating presser roll abovesaid moistener roll to engage the tape and yieldingly force it intomoistening contact with the moistener roll, said presser roll having awater repellent peripheral surface, means to positively rotate saidmoistener roll and means to positively rotate said presser rolladjustingdevices to regulate the minimum distance between said moistenerand presser rolls to less than the thickness of the gummed tape passingbetween them and a scraper 00- operating with said presser roll toremove adherent water therefrom. V

22. In tape moistening machines, means to feed and sever gummed tapeinto lengths and cooperating moistening means for the severed lengthsoftape comprising a moistener roll having water carrying depressions tocarry liquid to the tape and a cooperating presser roll above saidmoistener roll to engage the tape and yieldingly force it intomoistening contact with the moistener roll, said presser roll having awater repellent peripheral surface formed of compressed disks ofparaflined paper, means to positively rotate said moistener roll andmeans to rotate said presser roll at a linear speed slightly greaterthan that of the moistener roll and a scraper cooperating with saidpresser roll to remove adherent water there from.

23. In tape moistening machines, means to feed and sever gummed tape andcooperating moistening means comprising a moistener roll having Watercarrying depressions to carry liquid to the tape and a cooperatingpresser roll above said moistener roll to engage the tape and yieldinglyforce it into moistening contact with the moistener roll, said presserroll having a Water repellent peripheral surface and means to retatesaid presser roll at a linear speed slightly greater than that of themoistener roll.

24. In tape nioistening machines, means to feed and sever gummed tapeand cooperating moistening means comprising a moistener roll and acooperating presser roll above said moistener roll to engage the tapeand yieldingly force it into moistening contact with the moistener roll,and adjusting devices to regulate the minimum distance between saidmoistener and presser rolls to less than the thickness of the gummedtape passing between them and allow the yielding separation of saidrolls as the tape engages them. 7

25. In tape moistening machines, means to supply gummed tape and meansto automatically sever from said supply recurring series each comprisingstrips of different predetermined lengths and moisten and deliver thesame successively.

26. In tape moistening machines, feed devices and cooperating cutter andmoistening devices to automatically sever, moisten and deliver recurringseries of strips of gummed tape, each series comprising successivelydelivered strips of different predetermined relative length.

CHARLES H. GROW ELL.

Witnesses J EANNETTE HEU'IER, MARIE BETTEX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.

